Staple-driving machine



July 1o, 1923. l 3,461,113?

J. MUTH STPLE DRIVING MACHINE Filed March 24. 1921 v l/ /v` V//f /I Patented July 10, 1923.

UNITEDSTATES r Fries.

JOHN iviUTr'c,A or NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, AssrGNos To THE E. rr. HoTCHKIss COM- PANY, or NORWALK', CONNECTICUT. A CORPORATION or` CONNECTICUT.

STAPLE-DRIVING MACHINE.

Application led March 24., 1921. Serial No. 455,121.

VTo all-whom t may concem:

` Be it known that LJOHN MUTH, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Norwalk, county of Fairfield, State of `Connecticut, have invented an Improvement `in Staple-Driving Machines, of'` whichthe folt lowing is a s'pecication.

This invention relates to stapling ma chines, and more'particularly to'that type known as strip staple machines, wherein each staple, at the time it is driven, is severed from a strip of integrally connected staples which is fed forwardly at each operation of 'the lmachine to bring the staples successively a into position tobe severed and driven.

In a machine'ofthis type, as usually constructed, the staple strip is fed forward to the point `where `the individual staples are severed and driven byV feeding and holding devices which are located inside the machine casing and are inaccessible from the yexterior of the latter, said devices holding the strip against backward movement and making its impossible to retract the same. It isy not uncommon, however, for the staples to become clogged in the machinefrom various causes,l andfin such event it is desirable to retract and remove the strip in orderl toclear the machine.

The present invention has, therefore, for its primary object to providemeans accessible from the exterior of the machine casing n for disengaging the :feeding Landholding` devices from the staple strip in-or`der to permit the strip to be withdrawn from the machine..

With the foregoing and other objects'in y view, I have devised the novel mechanism which I will now describe` reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section:

4 of a complete stapling machine having ap plied thereto a preferred form of the invention.

Fig.` 2 is a transverse section taken sub-- stantially on the line2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig 3is a perspective view, on an eni larged scale, of the staple carrying bar and the pawl releasing slide.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation, ona reduced scale, ofthe complete machine.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side elevation ofthe 'staple carrying bar, the detent and -feed pawls, and the pawl releasing slide,

illustrating the mode of operation of the latter.

`Figc is a perspective view of a modified form of releasing slide. n

10 denotes the machine base, which'is provided at its forward end with an anvil 48 having the usual concave clenching recess 11. Pivoted to said base is the head of the machine, which comprises a casing 12 having at its lower side a longitudinalrecess 14 in which is located a staple carryingbar 15 upon which the staple strip slides, said bar being secured to the casing by pins 16 and being pivoted at 13 between upstanding ears 19 at the rear end of the base 10. `The bar 15 is centrally located in the recess 14, and the upper portion thereofis spaced from the lateral walls of said recess by plates 17 interposed between said bar `and walls in Order to provide the necessarywclearance for the free passage of the staple strip. At its forward end the casing 12 is formed with a vertically disposed cylindrical enlargement to constitutea guide 18 for a vertically reciprocating plunger 19 having a knob or hand piece 2O at its upper end. A coil spring 21 is interposed between the hand piece 20 and the top of the guide 18, said spring normally holding the plunger in raised position. rEhe fiat, forward end of the bar 15 is vdisposed in substantial alinement or in substantially the same vertical plane with the flat, rear face of the plunger 19, only sufficient clearance being provided between said bar and plunger to permit Vthe y latter to pass the former and to cooperate therewith to shear off the first staple of the strip when the plunger is depressed. i The staple strip 50 is supported and slides on the top of the bar 15 with its foremost staple normally projecting beyond the end of the bar in a yposition to be sev* ered from the strip by the plunger 19 in its downward movement and driven through the throat 22 of the machine upon the anvil 48. 23 denotes a cam plate pivoted at`25 within the casing 12 at the rear of the plun-A ger 19 and having pivoted at its lower end a feed pawl 26 formed with a forked lower end to engagebetween the individual staples of the-strip.- The cam plate 23` is yoscillated on its pivot 25 Iat each reciprocation of the plunger 19 by alug 27 on said plunger which engages lower and upper cam surfaces 28 and 29 formed on said cam plate, said cam surfaces being so designed that at each oscillation ofthe 'cam plate 23 the feed pawl 26 will be moved a distance corresponding to the width of one staple on the strip. When the plunger `19 is depressed, engagement of the lug'27 with'the cam surface 28 causes the feed pawl 26 to move backwardly upon the staple strip, and, when said plunger is raised, engagement ofsaid lug -with the cam surface 29 causes said feed pawl to be moved'forwardly ,to advance Ithe strip. 30 denotes -asdetentpawl pivoted at 31 within the casing and having a forked lower end `to engage the staple strip .50 `and prevent retrograde movement :ofthe latter when the feed pawl 26 ismoved backwardly thereon. .32 denotes a springcarriedby a pin 24 within the casing and having end portionsengaging the pawls 26 and 30 vrespectivelyvto lhold said pawls in yieldingengagemcnt with the staple strip.

The parts `thus far described yconstitute anillustrative example of awellknown type .of `stapling machine which, speciiically,y may be .of any usual orv desired construction and arrangement. In sucha machine the-staple ystrip is usually inserted from the rear-and is `-moved forwardly along the bar 15 until the foremost stapleis brought to aposition beneath vthe plunger 19, said strip being thereafter held. against rearward. movement and withdrawal yfrom the machine 4by the pawls 26 and 30, which are held in constant engagement therewith by the spring `32. Should the machine, however, become clogged forany reason, it becomesdesirable to withdraw the strip, and, in order to permit this, to release or disengage `the pawls 26 .and 30, wliiclnliowever, in machines of this type as usually constructed, are permanentlysecured within the casing and are inaccessible from the exterior' thereof. To this end, in accordance with the present invention, the following means are provided.

The plates 17 are made of sufficient thicln ness to provide a clearance between the bar 15 and the wallslof the recess 14 in excess of that required for the reception of 'the staple strip 50, .and in this additional space is arranged a sliding channel member 33 having` the edges of its sideflianges resting ony said plates 17, said member overlying-.and sti-addling thebar`151and staple strip'50 and being movable longitudinally thereon. The

vslidingmember or slide"33 constitutes an auxiliaryv guidefor,l the staple strip, which lies between it and the bar 15,. and facilitates the free movement of said stripk inasmuch as `it serves to hold'the latter out of contact with thewalls .of the recess 14 which, being parts vof the casting' constituting the casing 12, arerrelativelyrough. The rear end of theslide i'projects through and extends beyond the rear of the casing 12, being formed with a :linger piece 85 for convenience in handling. The vforwardgend of the slide 33, when the latter is in its normal position as shown in full linesin 1 and in dotted 'lines in Fig. 5, lies 'in the rear ofthe pawls 26 and 30 in all positions of said pawls, and, therefore, does not interfere with the normal operation of the latter. Said slide is .held in .this .position by a coil spring 42 located in a recess 41 formed in the casing 12 and communicatllgwith.,the longitudinal recess 14. The spring'- 42surrounds astruck ,up tongue 40 .on the top web of s aid,slide .and `engages Vat its opposite ends respective-lythe front walls `Ofthe recess-41 and a shoulder 34 on said tongue,.-therebyholding said shoulder in-,en-gagement `with-the rear wallof said recess. The spring@ and slide 33 are assembled inthe-,casing 1 2 prior yto theV insertion and attachmentofthe ,staple carryingbar 15,iwhich thereafter5holtls-the .tongue `40 lin `,the recess 41V and `Letaris said :slide in permanent.positionjin theymachine, so as to prevent the` same j from being removed `and mislaid. 38 denotespan opening formedy in, the. slide 33 adj acent, the forward end thereof, Aand 89 .an opening 1in .the side wall lof the :casing 12 communicating .with the v recess 14 and .with which said opening 38 is. adaptedto; register .whenthe slide is moved into its forward position.

In opera-tion, whenit is desired forany reasonto remove.thestaplestrip, the slide 33 is pushed forwardly byineans of the finger piece 35, causingthe .forwardend thereof to engage the pawls 26and 30 and lift" the same out of `engagement withsaid strip, as showninffulllineson Fig. 5. jThe strip may then bewithdrawn from ,theI rear of themachineif long enoughtoproject therefrom, or, may. be caused to slip .back and drop outl ,of the lmachine by tilting the latter, being freed or started, if necessary, by inserting asuitable implement through the openings`38iand 39 ,and pushingsaid strip backwardly. y

In Fig. 61s illustrateda modified form of pawl releasing slidecomprisinga channel membersimilar to the 4member. 33 and 4like the latter adapted tostraddle the bar 15 and staple strip andtoffit the space betweensaid bar and the wallsofthe recess 14, sa id member 45 being also provided ywith anger piece* 35 :and an opening 38. The; member 45 is intended to be removed from thegma chine when not `in use and may be employed in connection with any numbervof likemachines, its operation beingotherwisesimilar to that of the `member33 as -abovedescribed5 Having thus described my ,iniention ,f I claim:

1. A pawl releasing deviceffor strip staple machines compilg 2l .Ghibllll imelllbl" adapted to sli'de above the y, staple Strip; and

l (lt) said casing rfor releasing said feedi-ngand` holding devices -to permit Withdrawal of said strip. f

4. In 'a stapling machine, inY combination,` a casing, a staple strip carrying bar, staple strip ffeediing devices Within said casing and comprising afeed pavvl and a detent paWl, and means independent of the feeding and holding devices and accessible from the lexterior of the casing for disengaging said paivls from the stripy to` permit the latter to be withdrawn from the machine.4 5. In a stapling` machine, in combination,

a casing, a staple strip carrying bar, staple strip feeding and fholding devices Within said casing,and va member slidable on said bar andaccessible from the exterior'of said casing1 for Vdisengaging"said feeding and holding devices from the staplestrip to permitvvithdravval ofthe latter.

6. Ina staplingl machine, in combination,

a casing, a staple strip carrying bar, staple strip feeding and holding devices Withinv said casing and a channel member slidable on said bar and accessible from the exterior of said `casing for disengaging said feeding and holding devices `from the staple strip "ito'permit Withdrawal of the latter.

7. In a stapling machine, in combination, a casing, a staple strip carrying'bar, staple strip `feeding and holding devices Wit-hin said casing, and a sliding` channel member adapted to straddle said bar and the stapleV strip `thereon and accessible from the exterior of `sa1d casing for disengaging said feeding and holding devices from the staple strip to permit Withdrawal of thel latter.

8.' In a stapling machine, in combination, a casing having a recess, a staple strip carrying bar in said recess, staple strip feeding and holding devices Within said casing, and a sliding member between said bar and the Walls of said recess and accessible from the exterior of the casing for disengaging said feeding and holding devices from the staple strip to permit Withdrawal of the latter.

9. In a stapling machine, in combination, a casing having a recess, a staple stripl carrying bar in said recess, stapley strip feeding and holding dev fices Within said casing, and a sliding channel member disposed between said bar and the Walls of said recess and accessible from the exterior of said casing for disengaging said feeding and holding devices from the staple strip to permitwithdrawal of the latter.

- 10. In a 'stapling machine, in combination, a casing, a staple strip carrying bar, staple strip feeding and holding devices Within said casing, .and a sliding member pro-jectingthrough the rear of said casing for disngaging said feeding and holding devices from the staple strip to permit Withdrawal of the latter.

1.1. In a stapling machine comprising a casing and devices Within saidcasing for feeding and holding a staple strip, staple strip guiding means accessible from the exterior of said casing and movable to disengage said feeding and holding devices from the staple strip and permit Withdrawal of the latter.

12.*In a stapling machine comprising a casing and devices vvithinsaid casing for feeding and holding a. staple. strip, means independent of the feeding and holding devices Vand accessible from the exterior of said casing for releasing said feeding and holding devices to permit` Withdrawal of said strip, and means "for retaining said releasing means Within said casing.

13. In a stapling machine, in combination, a casinghaving a recess, a staple strip carrying bar, staple strip feeding" and holding devices `Within said casing, and af memberslidable on said bar and accessible from the exteriorof said casing for disengaging said feeding and holding devices rfrom the staple `strip to permit Withdrawal of the latter, said member having a tongue extending into said recess and retaining said member in said casing.

14. In a stapling machine comprising a casing and devices Within said casing for feeding and holding a staple strip, means accessible ffrom the exterior of said casing for releasing said` feeding and holding devices to permit'tvith'drawal of said strip, said means being independent of and separate fromy the feeding and holding'devices, and meansfor normally holding the releasing means in `inoperative position.

15. In a stapling machine, `in combination, a casing, a staple strip lcarrying bar, staple strip feeding and holding devices Within said casing, a member slidable on said bar and accessible from the exterior of said casing for disengaging said feeding and holding devices from the staple strip to permit Withdrawal of the latter. and a spring cooperating With said slidable member for normally holding the same out of engagement with said feeding and holding devices.

16.' In a stapling machine, in combination, a casing having a recess, a staple strip carrying bar, staple strip feeding and holding devices Within said casing, a member slidable on said bar and accessible from the exterior lOl member ont* of engagement With-said-feedingl and holding devices.

17. In astapling machine, incoinbination,

a casing having a longitudinal recessv andv a'second recess communicating therewith, a staple strip carrying bar iii said longitudinal recess, staple strip feeding and holding devices Within said casing, a sliding channel member disposed between saidbar and the Walls of said longitudinal recess and stradf dling said bar and the staple stripthereon, said member being accessible from; the ex@ yterior of said casing and being movable to engage said feeding and-holding devices and disengage the same yfrom said' staple strip to permit the Withdrawal of the latter,- and said member having a tongneextending into 4saidfsecond recess and retaining said member in said casing, and a spring insaid last named recess and engagingv said tongue for normally holding sardi member out of. engagement ivithsaid feeding and holding devices.

18. In a stapling machine, incombination, a casing having a recess and an openingcominnnicating with said recess, a staple strip carrying bar in saidrecess and spaced from theivalls thereof, staple strip feeding and holding devices Within said casing, and a sliding channel member accessible from the exterior of said casing for engaging said feeding and holding devices and` disengaging the saine from the staple strip to permit Withdrawal of the latter, said member being located between said bar and the Walls of said recess and strarddling said bar andthe l staple strip thereon and having an` opening adapted to register with the opening in said casing Whensaid member is moved to releasesaid feeding and'holding devices.

19. In a stapling machine, in combination, a casing having a longitudinal recess, staple strip carrying bar in said recess, spacing plates interposed between said bar. and the Walls of said: recess,` sta-ple` strip feedingl and` holding devices Within said casing, and a sliding channel; member adapted to straddle saidrbar` and aY staple strip thereon and have ing its` edges resting onsaid plates, said member being accessible ,from the exterior of said casing and being-movable to disengage said feeding andholding devices from the sta-ple stripito permit Withdrawal of the latter;

20. In a: stapling machine, in` combination, af casing, a-staple;strip'carryingbar, a staple strip-feeding; device Within said casing, and a member slidable on said bar and accessible from; the exterior of; said easing for disenga'ging said feeding devicefrom the staple strip to permit Withdrawal of the latter.

21. Ina stapling machine, in combination, a.casing,a staple stripcarryingbar, ay staple strip feeding-deviceewithiirsaid casing, and a` channeh member slidable on saidbar and accessible from the exterior of said casingv for disengagi-ng said feeding device from the staple strip: to` permit Withdrawal of' the latter.

22. In astapling'machine, in combination, a casing, astaple strip carrying bar, a staple stripfeeding device Within said casing, and a sliding channel member adapted to stradf dle said barv and the staple strip thereon and accessible from tlieexterior of said casing for disengaging said feeding: devicey from the staplestrip to permit-Withdrawal ofthe latter.

23. Ina staplingfmachine, incombination, a casingyastaple strip carry-ingrbar, a staplestrip feeding deviceiwithinsaid casing, and a sliding member projecting through. the rear of saidcasing for disengaging said feed-4 ing device fromr the staple strip topermit Withdrawal of. the latter.

24: In a stapling machine comprising a casinganda devicewvithin said casing for feeding a staple strip, staple strip guiding meansy accessible from the exterior of said casing andimovable-to disengage said yfeeding devicel from thestaple stripand permit Withdrawalof the latter.

In testimony whereof. I, affixmyl signature.

JOHN- MU'IH. 

